Early osmotic adjustment responses in drought- resistant and drought-sensitive oilseed rape

The impact of osmotic stress on growth, physiolo- gy, and metabolism of winter oilseed rape （Brassica napus L.） was investigated by detailed analysis of biomass traits, hormone metabolites and osmolytes in two genetically unrelated drought-tolerant genotypes and two unrelated drought-sensitive genotypes. Seedlings were grown in vitro under controlled conditions and osmotic stress was simulated by applying a gradual treatment with polyethylene glycol （PEG 6ooo）, followed by hypo-osmotic treatment of variants used for metabolite determination. The results provide a basis for the identification of reliable selection criteria for drought resistance in oilseed rape. The in vitro cultivation system established during this study enabled effective discrimination of early osmotic stress responses between drought-resistant and -susceptible oilseed rape genotypes that also show large differences in relative seed yield under drought conditions in the field. Clear physiological and metabolic differences wereobserved between the drought-resistant and drought-sensitive genotypes, suggesting that osmotic adjustment is a key component of drought response in oilseed rape. Unexpected- ly, however, the drought-resistant genotypes did not show typical hormonal adjustment and osmolyte accumulation, suggesting that they possess alternative physiological mech- anisms enabling avoidance of stress symptoms.     

渗透胁迫下小麦根系渗透调节与根冠淀粉水解的研究

用不同浓度的PEG—600对抗旱性不同的小麦幼苗进行渗透胁迫处理,研究了小麦幼苗根系的淀粉酶活性、可溶性糖含量、渗透势、渗透调节能力和根冠淀粉的水解状况。结果表明,随着渗透胁迫程度的加重,抗旱性强的小麦品种昌乐5号和北农2号根系渗透势和饱和渗透势的降低程度大于抗旱性弱的小麦品种鲁麦5号和921842,并且抗旱性强的小麦品种根系的渗透调节能力大于抗旱性弱的小麦品种。随着渗透胁迫程度的加重．各品种小麦根冠淀粉粒均有不同程度的减少。而抗旱性强的品种根冠淀粉粒的减少程度小于抗旱性弱的品种;抗旱性强的小麦品种根系淀粉酶活性显著高于抗旱性弱的小麦品种,但是,随着渗透胁迫程度的加重,抗旱性弱的品种淀粉酶活性增加的幅度远高于抗旱性强的品种。可溶性糖含量的变化趋势与淀粉酶活性的变化趋势一致．即渗透胁迫下根冠淀粉水解程度大的小麦品种,可溶性糖的含量高。但根冠淀粉水解在根系的渗透调节以及在小麦适应水分胁迫中的作用还有待于进一步探讨。     

Water status of drought-resistant and drought-sensitive sorghum treated with ethephon

The effects of ethephon on stomatal resistance, water potential, osmotic potential, turgor potential, and ethylene production were determined on leaves of a drought-resistant (KS 65) and a drought-sensitive (IA 25) genotype of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] grown under wellwatered or drought-stressed conditions. With both sufficient and limited water supply, ethephon had no effect on the adaxial, abaxial, or total stomatal resistance of either genotype. For both water treatments, the adaxial stomatal resistance of the drought-sensitive genotype was higher than that of the drought-resistant genotype. Ethephon increased the amount of ethylene produced by the plants under both levels of water. For plants with sufficient water, water potentials of both genotypes were lowered by ethephon. Ethephon had no effect on the water potentials under drought or on the osmotic potentials under either water regime. With drought, the turgor potential of the drought-sensitive genotype, but not that of the drought-resistant, was increased by ethephon.     

Water and Osmotic Potentials of Ethephon-Treated Maize Genotypes Varying in Drought Resistance

Leaves of drought-resistant and drought-sensitive genotypes of maize (Zea mays L.) were sprayed with ethephon to determine its effect on water and osmotic potentials. With both sufficient and limited water supplies, ethephon decreased the water potential, but not the osmotic potential, of the drought-sensitive maize. It had no effect on the water and osmotic potentials of the drought-resistant maize under either water regime. The results showed that the response of a genotype of maize to ethephon depends upon its susceptibility to drought.     

Water status of drought-resistant and drought-sensitive sorghum treated with ethephon

The effects of ethephon on stomatal resistance, water potential, osmotic potential, turgor potential, and ethylene production were determined on leaves of a drought-resistant (KS 65) and a drought-sensitive (IA 25) genotype of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] grown under wellwatered or drought-stressed conditions. With both sufficient and limited water supply, ethephon had no effect on the adaxial, abaxial, or total stomatal resistance of either genotype. For both water treatments, the adaxial stomatal resistance of the drought-sensitive genotype was higher than that of the drought-resistant genotype. Ethephon increased the amount of ethylene produced by the plants under both levels of water. For plants with sufficient water, water potentials of both genotypes were lowered by ethephon. Ethephon had no effect on the water potentials under drought or on the osmotic potentials under either water regime. With drought, the turgor potential of the drought-sensitive genotype, but not that of the drought-resistant, was increased by ethephon.Contribution no. 90-147-J of the Journal Series of the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Manhattan, Kansas, USA.     

不同抗旱性花生品种的根系形态发育及其对干旱胁迫的响应

为明确不同抗旱性花生品种的根系形态发育特征,探讨其根系形态发育特征对不同土壤水分状况的响应机制,在防雨棚旱池内进行土柱栽培试验,研究抗旱型品种“花育22号”、“唐科8号”和干旱敏感型品种“花育23号”3个不同抗旱性花生品种根系形态发育特征及其对干旱胁迫的响应.结果表明:抗旱型品种根系较发达,具有较大的根系生物量、总根长、总根系表面积.干旱胁迫使抗旱型品种根系总表面积和体积增加,而干旱敏感型品种则相反.干旱胁迫显著增加抗旱型品种“花育22号”20 cm以下土层内根长密度分布比例及根系表面积和体积,但“唐科8号”相应根系性状仅在20-40 cm土层内增加;干旱胁迫使干旱敏感型品种“花育23号”40 cm以下土层内各根系性状升高,但未达显著水平且其深层土壤内各根系性状增加幅度小于“花育22号”.花生根系总长、总表面积及0-20 cm土层内根系性状与产量间呈显著或极显著正相关.土壤水分亏缺条件下,花生主要通过增加深层土壤内根长、根系表面积和体积等形态特性,优化空间分布构型,以调节植株对水分的利用.     

Genome-Wide Functional Analysis of Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) in Response to Drought

Cotton is one of the most important crops for its natural textile fibers in the world. However, it often suffered from drought stress during its growth and development, resulting in a drastic reduction in cotton productivity. Therefore, study on molecular mechanism of cotton drought-tolerance is very important for increasing cotton production. To investigate molecular mechanism of cotton drought-resistance, we employed RNA-Seq technology to identify differentially expressed genes in the leaves of two different cultivars (drought-resistant cultivar J-13 and drought-sensitive cultivar Lu-6) of cotton. The results indicated that there are about 13.38% to 18.75% of all the unigenes differentially expressed in drought-resistant sample and drought-sensitive control, and the number of differentially expressed genes was increased along with prolonged drought treatment. DEG (differentially expression gene) analysis showed that the normal biophysical profiles of cotton (cultivar J-13) were affected by drought stress, and some cellular metabolic processes (including photosynthesis) were inhibited in cotton under drought conditions. Furthermore, the experimental data revealed that there were significant differences in expression levels of the genes related to abscisic acid signaling, ethylene signaling and jasmonic acid signaling pathways between drought-resistant cultivar J-13 and drought-sensitive cultivar Lu-6, implying that these signaling pathways may participate in cotton response and tolerance to drought stress.     

Impact of osmotic stress on physiological and biochemical characteristics in drought-susceptible and drought-resistant wheat genotypes

In this study, the seedlings of two wheat cultivars were used: drought-resistant Chinese Spring (CS) and drought-susceptible (SQ1). Seedlings were subjected to osmotic stress in order to assess the differences in response to drought stress between resistant and susceptible genotype. The aim of the experiment was to evaluate the changes in physiological and biochemical characteristics and to establish the optimum osmotic stress level in which differences in drought resistance between the genotypes could be revealed. Plants were subjected to osmotic stress by supplementing the root medium with three concentrations of PEG 6000. Seedlings were grown for 21 days in control conditions and then the plants were subjected to osmotic stress for 7 days by supplementing the root medium with three concentrations of PEG 6000 (D1, D2, D3) applied in two steps: during the first 3 days of treatment ?0.50, ?0.75 and ?1.00 and next ?0.75, ?1.25 and ?1.5 MPa, respectively. Measurements of gas exchange parameters, chlorophyll content, height of seedlings, length of root, leaf and root water content, leaf osmotic potential, lipid peroxidation, and contents of soluble carbohydrates and proline were taken. The results highlighted statistically significant differences in most traits for treatment D2 and emphasized that these conditions were optimum for expressing differences in the responses to osmotic stress between SQ1 and CS wheat genotypes. The level of osmotic stress defined in this study as most suitable for differentiating drought resistance of wheat genotypes will be used in further research for genetic characterization of this trait in wheat through QTL analysis of mapping population of doubled haploid lines derived from CS and SQ1.     

小麦叶片光合作用与其渗透调节能力的关系

在缓慢干旱条件下,小麦叶片渗透调节能力在一定范围内随胁迫程度的加剧而增加,而在快速干旱下,渗透调节能力丧失。小麦叶片通过渗透调节使光合速率和气孔导度对水分胁迫的敏感性降低,叶片维持较高的电子传递能力、RuBP羧化酶活性和叶绿体光合能量转换系统活性,并推迟了小麦叶片光合速率受气孔因素限制向叶肉细胞光合活性限制转变的时间。     

干旱胁迫对不同耐旱性大麦品种叶片超微结构的影响

选用耐旱性不同的3个大麦（Hordeum sativum）品种作为研究对象,分析干旱胁迫对其叶肉细胞叶绿体、线粒体和细胞核超微结构的影响。结果表明,3个大麦品种在非胁迫条件下其超微结构无明显差异。遭受干旱胁迫后,不耐旱大麦品种Moroc9-75叶片细胞核中染色质的凝聚程度高,叶绿体变形,外被膜出现较大程度的波浪状和膨胀,同时基粒出现弯曲、膨胀、排列混乱的现象;线粒体外形及膜受到破坏、内部嵴部分消失等。耐旱大麦品种HS41-1叶片细胞中染色质虽出现凝聚,但凝聚程度低;其叶绿体及线粒体与非胁迫条件下基本相似,多数未见明显损伤。耐旱中等的大麦品种Martin叶片超微结构的变化则介于二者之间。因此,干旱胁迫下叶绿体外形、基粒和基质类囊体膜结构的完整性与基粒的排列次序、染色质的凝聚度和线粒体膜及嵴的完整性与大麦的耐旱性相关,这些特性可作为评价大麦耐旱性强弱的形态结构指标。     

干旱胁迫及复水对不同黍稷品种根系生理特性的影响

以2种抗旱性不同的黍稷品种(‘陇糜4号’和‘晋黍7号’)为试验材料,采用盆栽试验研究了苗期中度和重度干旱胁迫后拔节期复水对其根系生理特性的影响。结果显示:(1)干旱胁迫引起2个黍稷品种根系活力明显下降,根系SOD、POD活性以及MDA、脯氨酸含量明显升高,而且重度干旱胁迫处理变化幅度显著大于中度干旱胁迫。(2)复水后,2个黍稷品种根系的各项生理指标均有不同程度的恢复,且中度胁迫处理较易恢复,重度胁迫下恢复能力很弱。(3)2个黍稷品种根系各项生理指标在干旱胁迫及复水条件下变化幅度不同,干旱胁迫下抗旱性强的‘陇糜4号’根系活力下降幅度明显低于抗旱性弱的‘晋黍7号’,根系SOD活性、POD活性、MDA含量和脯氨酸含量的上升幅度明显高于‘晋黍7号’,而复水后‘陇糜4号’根系的各项生理指标的恢复能力明显强于‘晋黍7号’。研究表明,干旱胁迫及复水条件下‘陇糜4号’均表现出较高的根系活力、保护酶活性和脯氨酸含量,且MDA含量较低,从而表现出较强的抗旱性。     

干旱胁迫对小麦幼苗抗氰呼吸和活性氧代谢的影响

研究了干旱胁迫对抗旱性强弱不同的两种小麦幼苗的抗氰呼吸和活性氧代谢的影响。干旱胁迫导致了两种小麦抗氰呼吸活性及基因转录水平的下降,但抗旱品种在轻度干旱胁迫下表现出一定的适应能力,其抗氰呼吸活性及基因转录水平均高于不抗旱品种。干旱胁迫下,对干旱敏感的小麦幼苗叶片中活性氧含量高于抗旱小麦;3种抗氧化酶的活性低于抗旱小麦的3种抗氧化酶的活性。据此认为,严重的干旱胁迫引起活性氧含量的增加扰动了活性氧与抗氰呼吸之间的应答平衡,但抗氰呼吸可能通过清除活性氧等机制而起了抗旱的作用。     

Hydraulic resistance of two sorghums varying in drought resistance

Genotypes of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] vary in drought resistance. Yet it is not known if their hydraulic resistances vary. The objective of this study was to determine if the hydraulic resistance of a drought-resistant sorghum was the same as that of a drought-sensitive sorghum. Leaf water and osmotic potentials were measured daily, during a 14-d period, in leaves of a drought-resistant (‘KS9’) and a drought-sensitive (‘IA25’) sorghum, which had the roots in pots with a commercial potting soil that was either well watered or allowed to dry. Soil water potential, adaxial stomatal resistance, and transpiration rate were determined daily. Hydraulic resistance of the plants was calculated from the slope of the line relating soil water potential minus leaf water potential versus transpiration rate. When the soil was not watered, the drought-sensitive sorghum had a water potential that averaged −0.50 MPa lower and an osmotic potential that averaged −0.57 MPa lower, but a similar adaxial stomatal resistance (1.19 s mm⁻¹), compared with the drought-resistant sorghum. Seven days after the beginning of the experiment, the water potential of the soil with the drought-sensitive sorghum was −0.25 MPa lower than that of the soil with the drought-resistant sorghum. With the water-limited conditions, the drought-sensitive sorghum depleted the soil-water reserve more quickly and died 2 d before the drought-resistant sorghum. Under well watered conditions, the two sorghums had similar water potentials (−1.64 MPa), osmotic potentials (−2.83 MPa), and adaxial stomatal resistances (0.78 s mm⁻¹). The calculated hydraulic resistance of the two sorghums did not differ and averaged 3.4 × 10⁷ MPa s m⁻¹. The results suggested that the variation in susceptibility to drought between the two genotypes was due to differences in rate of soil-water extraction. Contribution No. 86-249-J from the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station. The paper is dedicated to the memory of Dr Dan M Rodgers.     

Differential Drought Responses in F-box Gene Expression and Grain Yield Between Two Rice Groups with Contrasting Drought Tolerance

Understanding the molecular mechanisms regulating rice’s response to drought stress is important for cereal crop development. We investigated the physiological and gene expression responses of three drought-tolerant and two drought-sensitive unrelated rice cultivars at the reproductive stage. Leaf water loss and leaf rolling tests distinguished these two groups from each other. Both 7 and 14 days of drought stress affected most of the tested agronomic traits including grain yield, and the effects were stronger in the drought-sensitive cultivars. Fourteen days of drought stress severely reduced grain yield in the sensitive cultivars. Expression levels of 50 genes previously published were examined in panicles. Of these, 25 genes were expressed in panicles and could be classified into 6 groups. LOC_Os02g51350, a Kelch domain-containing F-box gene, was selected for further studies including expression analysis in panicles during the 14-day drought stress, domain analysis, and analysis of cis-acting elements in the promoters. All three drought-resistant cultivars possessed the F-box domain, which was absent in the two drought-sensitive cultivars. In addition, drought-related ABRE and DRE/CRT cis-acting elements were more abundant in Os02g51350 promoters of cultivars with good grain yield under drought stress than in promoters of cultivars with severe yield reduction. Our results suggest that the F-box version of Os02g51350 is important for maintenance of grain yield under drought.     

干旱及复水对芭蕉芋干物质及氮磷钾积累与分配特征的影响

以抗旱性弱的‘兴芋-1’和抗旱性强的‘兴芋-2’芭蕉芋品种为材料,通过盆栽试验,研究了干旱及复水对芭蕉芋干物质以及N、P、K积累与分配的影响,以明确干旱条件下芭蕉芋干物质的构成特点及N、P、K吸收分配特性,为芭蕉芋节水高效栽培提供理论依据。结果表明:(1)干旱胁迫显著抑制了芭蕉芋的生长,降低了根茎、茎和叶中干物质积累及其在根茎中的分配,而促进了根中干物质积累与分配。(2)干旱胁迫显著降低了芭蕉芋对N、P、K的吸收和积累,且N、K的降幅大于P,同时也改变了N、P、K在各器官中的分配比例。(3)干旱胁迫条件下,N优先向芭蕉芋叶中分配,而P和K优先向根和叶中分配,同时这些变化存在品种差异,抗旱性强的‘兴芋-2’受影响程度小于抗旱性弱的‘兴芋-1’,但‘兴芋-2’根茎中K的分配率降幅大于‘兴芋-1’。(4)复水后芭蕉芋茎、叶恢复效果优于根茎,P吸收积累的恢复效果优于N和K,但短期复水的补偿效应仍不足以弥补干旱胁迫的伤害。研究发现,干旱胁迫增加了芭蕉芋根、叶中矿质元素的分配比例,增强其渗透调节能力,提高其耐旱性;干旱条件下抗旱性强的芭蕉芋品种‘兴芋-2’的K利用率低于抗旱性弱的品种‘兴芋-1’。     

Expansins are involved in cell growth mediated by abscisic acid and indole-3-acetic acid under drought stress in wheat

Expansin protein is a component of the cell wall generally accepted to be the key regulator of cell wall extension during plant growth. Plant hormones regulate expansin gene expression as well as plant growth during drought stress. However, the relationship between expansin and plant hormone is far from clear. Here, we studied the involvement of expansin in plant cell growth mediated by the hormones indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and abscisic acid (ABA) under osmotic stress which was induced by polyethylene glycol (PEG)-6000. Wheat coleoptiles from a drought-resistant cultivar HF9703 and a drought-sensitive cultivar 921842 were used to evaluate cell growth and expansin activity. Osmotic stress induced the accumulation of ABA. ABA induced expansin activity mainly by enhancing expansin expression, since ABA induced cell wall basification via decreasing plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase activity, which was unfavorable for expansin activity. Although ABA induced expansin activity and cell wall extension, treatment with exogenous ABA and/or fluridone (FLU, an ABA inhibitor) suggested that ABA was involved in the coleoptile growth inhibition during osmotic stress. IAA application to detached coleoptiles also enhanced coleoptile growth and increased expansin activity, but unlike ABA, IAA-induced expansin activity was mainly due to the decrease of cell wall pH by increasing plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase activity. Compared with drought-sensitive cultivar, the drought-resistant cultivar could maintain greater expansin activity and cell wall extension, which was contributive to its resultant faster growth under water stress.     

Genotypic variation in drought stress response and subsequent recovery of wheat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum</Emphasis> L.)

Three wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes, Sadovo, Katya and Prelom, with different tolerance to drought were comparatively evaluated in terms of leaf respiratory responses to progressing dehydration and consecutive rewatering. Under drought stress, the respiration of all varieties gradually decreased, as the drought-tolerant Katya showed the most pronounced decline at earlier stages of dehydration. When water stress intensified, this genotype gave relatively stable respiration rates compared with the drought-sensitive varieties. Additionally, dehydrated Katya leaves displayed lower stomatal conductance and higher photosynthesis values, which resulted in greater water use efficiency during the dehydration period. Combination of drought stress and short-term changes in leaf temperature also induced genotype-specific response that differed from the response to drought only. Over the whole temperature range, the leaves of Katya exposed to dehydration for 14 days, showed higher respiration rates compared to the drought-sensitive varieties. The sensitive varieties maintained higher respiration rates under control conditions and mild dehydration, and very low rates under severe drought. In Katya, respiration and photosynthesis were fully restored from the stress within the first day of rewatering. The drought-sensitive genotypes displayed a considerably slower recovering capacity. The results are discussed in terms of possible physiological mechanisms underlying plant tolerance to drought.     

石生南亚毛灰藓在不同温度和干旱条件下的生理生化特性

通过模拟高温和干旱处理,对喀斯特石漠化生境中南亚毛灰藓(Homomallium simlaense(Mitt.)Broth.Mitt)在胁迫条件下生理特征的变化进行了研究。结果表明,南亚毛灰藓在高温和干旱条件下,各项生理指标均与相对含水量呈显著正相关;丙二醛、渗透调节物质和叶绿素含量均随处理时间的增加和含水量的降低而减少,但植株仍保持较高的可溶性糖含量以维持渗透压的平衡。在极端干旱和高温的条件下,南亚毛灰藓可通过降低生理活性,保持一定的可溶性糖含量度过胁迫期,同时丙二醛含量保持最低状态。高温和干旱处理结束后,进行复水处理,植株的渗透调节物质和丙二醛含量显著升高,光合作用迅速恢复。研究结果表明,南亚毛灰藓适应干旱和高温的极端条件可能与丙二醛含量有关,但复水结束后丙二醛含量升高,胁迫反而增强,说明南亚毛灰藓对高温和干旱具有一定耐受性,原因可能与其长期生存于喀斯特的石生环境有关。